Though one of the accused was nabbed red-handed by local residents, the policeman is still at large. They allegedly abducted the minor while she and her father were heading to a Durga Puja fair.

indiaUpdated: Oct 02, 2017 21:39 IST

Shailesh Sharma Hindustan Times, Hazaribag

Local residents led by the girl’s father nabbed the co-accused even as he was sexually assaulting the unconscious child on a neighbourhood river bank.(Representative image)

A police constable and his friend allegedly raped a three-year-old girl after abducting her from the vicinity of a Durga Puja fair at Barta village in Chatra district on Saturday evening.

Local residents led by the girl’s father nabbed the co-accused even as he was sexually assaulting the unconscious child on a neighbourhood river bank. While the man – identified as Vijay Bhuiyan – was handed over to police, the minor was rushed to the Hazaribagh Sadar Hospital in a critical state.

The constable, Mukesh Dangi, is still at large. Police have lodged a case against the duo, and a manhunt has been launched to arrest the absconder.

Chatra superintendent of police Anjani Kumar Jha said bloodstains found on Bhuiyan’s clothes confirmed his involvement in the crime. “We interrogated him thoroughly. He seems to have committed the crime under the influence of alcohol,” he added.

Dangi serves as a constable with the Ranchi police, but was home for the Puja holidays.

The victim, who regained consciousness at the hospital, told police that she had gone to the Durga Puja fair with her father. She was abducted by the duo when he left her behind on his motorcycle to make purchases from a nearby shop.

The father returned a little later, only to find his daughter missing. “I ran around the place looking for my child, but in vain. Finally, I decided to head back home – hoping to find her there. It was on my way there that I found Bhuiyan trying to force himself on my child. I raised the alarm, and some passersby rushed to help me. We nabbed Bhuiyan and handed him to the police,” he said.

Gidhour police station in-charge Ajay Kumar Panjikar said the child was responding well to treatment at the hospital. “Once she is out of danger, we will subject her to a medical check-up to confirm rape,” he added.

Incidentally, both the accused hail from Barta and are well-acquainted with the victim’s family.